Palazzo must have breathed a sigh of relief earlier this month when he saw no serious Republican challenger had filed for the primary. And he dodged another potential political pitfall when former Rep. Gene Taylor (D) decided not to go for a rematch.

Before the filing deadline, the freshman Member, who has had trouble getting his office and staff in order, was seen as vulnerable. But the fact that no viable challenger entered the race probably means he was safer than Mississippi politicos thought. And it couldn't have hurt to have powerful friends on his side.

"He may be challenged," former Sen. Trent Lott (R-Miss.) told Roll Call last month, "but I think Steven is well-positioned to get re-elected."